After the three-hour drive, they finally arrived at the set."We're here, ma'am..." Louis informed Ivy, as her mind was distracted. He got out and opened the door for her. When she came out, she glanced at the car parked behind them, the one which had the security professionals in it. She hoped she wouldn't have to deal with media about that subject if they noticed another car was following closely behind her everywhere she goes, especially now that they are probably on the set waiting for her.While the film set gets ready to bustle with activities for the day, the reporters mingled with the crew, trying to gather more information about the Ivy scandal and the crew members' individual thoughts towards Ivy's professionalism.They approached the less busy ones, firing questions at them."Where is the lead actress today, hasn't she returned for her shoot?""Is it true she has been sick for the past few days?"The crew members brushed them off, offering vague statements or "no comments."
Filming was wrapped up for the day, and Ivy was taking a short break before she would retire home. She had no idea where Zack had ordered Louis to take her for the night, nor had she received any message from him since morning.After changing back into her clothes, Joan passed her a bottle of water as usual, but this time Ivy was hesitant to drink it. She remembered how she felt after drinking one from the set the other day."Aren't you thirsty?" Joan asked after noticing her hesitation.Before Ivy could reply, another bottle of water was passed to her by one of the bodyguards she didn't realize was standing behind her. "Here ma'am."Joan's gaze shifted to the man who appeared out of nowhere, giving Ivy a bottle of water. This was a repetition of what Edmond did back then, and now it was being done by someone she didn't recognize.Ivy took the bottle without hesitating, which caused a frown to settle on Joan's face. "But...I..."Ivy didn't let her finish speaking before she interrupte
The door clicked open, and Bryan stepped in with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry to disturb you, sir, Madam."Zack messaged his temple, feeling a bit irritated for disrupting the moment. He gestured, allowing him in. "Did the detective call? Is that why you returned?""Yes." Bryan replied. Ivy had settled on one of the plush sofas; her initial fervor was gradually giving way to a sense of tranquility but it swung when she observed the look on Bryan's face. She could only hope whatever news he got from the detective would be good.The two men sank into the sofa, Zack sitting beside, while Bryan sat opposite them.Zack's expression turned serious as he struck up the main discussion. "What is it? Is it related to the unpleasant news you told me earlier today?""Yes, it is related, and it's terrible news." Bryan responded.Ivy furrowed her eyebrow as his words triggered her curiosity. "What happened, have they found the perpetrator?"The look on Bryan's face said otherwise. He shook
Ivy knew where he was getting at; it seemed he never got tired of teasing her. She rose to her feet to walk away but was quickly stopped by Zack."Fine, I won't tease you again. Just sit."She sat down, avoiding eye contact with him as she didn't want to get stuck in his gaze like earlier before Bryan interrupted."I suggested the hug because I thought you were scared." Zack explained, his voice laced with concern as he stared at her deeply. He very much wanted to comfort her in any way he could.Ivy gave a wry smile. "I am a bit worried but I'm not afraid because whosoever they are, they won't succeed in hurting me."Zack affirmed but also amused by her optimism and confidence. It drove him to confess his thoughts to her. "I've always admired your bravery and resilience."Ivy's smile widened, pleased by his accolade, prompting her to also make her own confession. "And I'm happy I have someone to rely on; you are very dependable."A smile etched his face; he usually frowned at complim
The couple dived into the night vibe, the balmy atmosphere enveloping them in a sense of tranquility even though there were looming awaiting that might pop in a sudden strike. They descended to the ground floor and drove out of the garage with the security team following closely behind them.The minute after their departure a vehicle stopped at the premises. The driver's eyes were solely fixed on the rearview mirror, earnestly monitoring their movement till they went out of sight.At that moment, His phone rang. "Is it done yet?" The caller inquired, His voice laced with urgency."Not yet, there is a slight glitch; she has got bodyguards following her around, trying to make it unnoticeable, but I saw through the subtle movement."The man replied, his eyes pinned on the grand penthouse a few distances away.There was a short pause before the caller continued. A sigh could be heard through the phone. "As I predicted, Zack Anderson is becoming a pain in my ass.""We should get rid of hi
Ivy's eyes widened in shock, as the news of his death sank in. She covered her lips with her palm as she exhaled in grief. "How...how did it happen," she asked, her voice slightly quaked. "But his condition was stable when we left him at the hospital."Zack was unable to respond. He opened the door and gestured for her to get in.They settled in the back seat, and the car went silent as they processed the weight of the shocking news.Zack's worry resurfaced, his mind raced, internally scrutinizing the cause of Edmond's sudden death. He suspected foul play, because he was always updated on Edmond's condition. Bryan told him a day ago there were positive signs indicating he was approaching consciousness, so why did he die all of a sudden? If his intuitions were right, then Ivy needed tighter security. He feared the worst might happen. It was awfully clear the perpetrator was a dangerous person and not afraid to add more crimes to their record.The more he thought of this, the more he fe
After receiving the order from Zack, Bryan drove straight to the hospital. He made an immediate appointment to see the doctor in charge of Edmond's treatment. As Bryan stepped into the office, he was welcomed with a warm smile from the doctor. "Good to see you, Mr. Bryan," the doctor greeted, extending his hand for a handshake. Bryan shook his hand without responding, his expression serious. The doctor noticed the solemn countenance, his mind hinted at the possible reason for his visit. For this man to pay him an urgent visit, he very well knew it was an order from his boss. "How may I help you today?" he asked with a wry smile. Bryan still didn't respond and graciously took his seat, his gaze solely fixed on the doctor. After a few seconds, Bryan's silence became distressing, and the doctor broke the tacitness. "Is anything the matter?" he asked, his smile never faltered. "Yes, I'm simply curious, doctor. You informed me Edmond was stable two days ago, so I came here r
It didn't take long for the doctor to figure out the source of the glitch that caused the unfortunate end of his patient. As he suspected, the life supporting machine might be the cause, he reviewed the machine log setting and the latest data. That's when he noticed discrepancies. He decided to investigate further with the hospital security team and the result turned out to be beyond what he expected.He immediately contacted Bryan to update him on his discovery. Bryan, after receiving the results of his findings, informed Zack.Zack had predicted the life supporting machine was manipulated. He further instructed Bryan to inform the detective as soon as possible, as he believed the detective might find a lead to help solve the issue.In the meantime, he continued to take safety precautions concerning Ivy's safety, especially on set.The time came for him to pick Ivy up as usual, but he was overwhelmed with work and his schedule was tight. Still, he refused to let her return home witho
Zack stared at his tablet for what felt like forever, hesitant. He was finally going to see the one who was behind his accident. But now the weight of the moment pressed down on him. He knew this call could change everything, reveal a face he might recognize, or a stranger he would despise. He wasn't sure he was ready for either.Ivy was by his side, squeezing his arm tightly and encouraging him to do it. "Come on, Finn made this possible for you, so... let’s get it over with," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and nudging him to tap on the screen."Alright," he said finally, but as Ivy attempted to speak, a loud cry came out from the room."Lucas again," she growled and got up, placing a soft kiss on Zack's cheek. "Be right back."With that, she left, and Zack decided to get it over with as Ivy had said. He tapped on the screen, and there just what he had feared stared right back at him.Those familiar emerald eyes..."Chris. So it was really you," Zack whispered, disbelief
THE NEXT MORNING, Ivy and Zack made their way downstairs, luggage in tow, with Lucas giggling in his stroller. Lucas was babbling excitedly, clearly sensing the adventure ahead, and Ivy couldn't help but smile at her little boy's enthusiasm. Although she was still a bit hesitant about leaving, Zack's and Lucas's enthusiasm was infectious.But she had to agree a vacation would benefit them all.Just as they were about to head out the door, Xavier, their butler, rushed in, looking flustered."Wait, please!" Xavier exclaimed. "We have a visitor."Ivy's eyes narrowed, her smile faltering. "Who is it?"Xavier hesitated before responding. "It's... your..." Before he could finish, a voice cut in."Zack has woken up all this time, and you didn't bother informing us," Henry walked in, the old man right beside him.The moment he set eyes on Zack, he went straight to him and hugged him tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay, son..."Zack, caught off guard, returned the hug, a mix of surprise and conf
"Ivy, remember when I took Roy outside?" Zack said, and Ivy frowned. "Yes, of course." "I thought... I thought I saw Chris. Briefly. Just a glimpse." Ivy's eyes widened in disbelief. "Chris? But... he hasn't called since that day..." "Exactly," Zack said, his brow furrowed. "But what if... what if... I don't know...?" Ivy shook her head, dismissing the idea. "Zack, that's impossible. Didn't you say he was an imposter?" "I'm starting to doubt that 'imposter' theory," Zack said. "It's too convenient the way he operates in the shadows... it's shady." Ivy's eyes narrowed, having a hard time processing everything. If he wasn't an imposter, then why hadn't he reunited with Zack? Why was he hiding? "What if... he has a vendetta? Against you?" Ivy sprang from the bed, her head filled with fear gnawing at her. She knew what it felt like to be wanted dead, and now Zack, this childhood friend... if it's true, then it's even worse than she imagined. "Maybe we should tell Finn every
"Lucas, I'm home!" Zack announced as he stepped into the familiar warmth of their living room. Ivy smiled and quickly got beside him. "Careful, Zack," she cautioned, her hand lightly touching his arm. "Remember, you're still recovering." "Now you want me to be treated like a fragile piece of glass, huh?" Zack said with his usual smirk, and Ivy couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Yeah, that's what you are right now." Zack smirked, closing the short distance between them. "Is that so?" Ivy stepped back, a blush creeping into her cheeks. "Zack, this isn't the right place to... you know, do your usual thing..." She then said with gritted teeth, "Maria and Lucas are coming." Zack turned to find Maria smiling his way. She bowed slightly and then placed Lucas on the ground. "There he is," Zack said, his voice softening as he knelt down. He extended his arms, a wide, welcoming smile on his face. "Come here, buddy. Daddy's home." Lucas hesitated, his gaze shifting between Zack and
"Zack, tomorrow's a big day. Lucas is hitting nine months," Ivy said, her voice soft as she gently ran her hands over Zack's. "Can you believe it? Nine months already?"She tried hard to grin, but what came out was a pathetic smile. "I... started him on complementary foods, you know. He seems to really like mashed sweet potatoes with a little cinnamon. He makes the funniest face when he tastes something new, but sweet potatoes are definitely his favorite."Ivy chuckled, despite knowing that Zack couldn't hear her. The sound was more for her own benefit, a way to release some of the tension and sadness that had been building up inside.But as she looked at Zack's still face, her expression shifted. Her smile faltered, and her eyes welled up with tears.Ivy's sigh turned into a sob, and she buried her face in her hands, letting the tears flow.She had hoped Zack would wake up before their son turned seven months, but now he was nine months, still trapped in this limbo.He didn't get to
SIX MONTHS LATERIvy's hands trembled as she held the phone, Bryan's voice sounding at the other end."Ma'am, we found him last night," Bryan said, his tone gentle but firm. "The driver who hit Zack. We've got a positive ID."Ivy's breath caught in her throat. Six months of waiting, wondering, and fighting for answers. Finally, she was going to get some justice."Who is it?" Ivy asked, her voice barely above a whisper.There was a pause before Bryan responded, "Marcus Thompson. The police are bringing him in for questioning. They're going to push him hard to see if he'll talk."Ivy's grip on the phone tightened. "Will he talk?""There's a good chance he might," Bryan said. "Thompson's got a history of criminal activity. He's been in and out of jail for various offenses. If the police can leverage that, he might be willing to cooperate."Ivy's mind was racing. "How soon can they get him to talk?" She wanted to wipe that smug look off Albert's face.Bryan hesitated before responding, "W
Ivy's car halted in front of the Anderson mansion. It was the early hours of the morning, and Ivy decided to seize this opportunity to get answers.She slammed the door behind her, took a deep breath, and stepped into the mansion. She didn't bother to knock before entering.A sliver of light spilled out from the lounge, the air thick with the smell of stale liquor."Albert!" Ivy yelled, scanning the whole place. "Albert, where are you?"Footsteps sounded, and Henry appeared coming down the stairs, draped in a robe and his hair a bit messy."It's too early to yell," he said, but as his eyes landed on Ivy, a frown settled on his face."What are you doing here?""Where is Albert?" Ivy asked, and Henry's brow deepened."Ivy, why are you here? Shouldn't you be sitting with Zack at the hospital?""Where is Albert?" Ivy's expression turned serious, the one that tells you, "I'm losing my patience."Henry's eyes lingered on her for a moment before finally pointing to a corner."Turn left."Wit
"I never should have let you leave." Ivy whimpered, squeezing Zack's hand, as if trying to coax life back into his fingers. "I should have forced you to eat breakfast... maybe... maybe..."She choked on tears trickling down her cheek... "maybe you would have escaped it..." she sniffled, trying to hold back her tears, but it was no use. The dam broke, and she let out a heart-wrenching sob, her body shaking uncontrollably."How long are you going to stay like this, huh? How long before you wake up..." she mumbled. "It's only been a few hours, and I can't keep seeing you like this..."He had always been the strong one, the rock that held her together when she broke down. But now he was the one who was broken, and she was left to pick up the pieces. All she could do was hope he would wake up sooner.Ivy's sobs slowly subsided as she wiped away her tears and took a deep breath.Her chest tightened, but she pushed through, squeezing his arm with all the strength she could muster."Please w
"Shhh, baby, it's okay," Ivy murmured, pacing back and forth in the room with the crying Lucas in her arms. "Mommy's here." The nanny, Maria, sat on the couch, watching them with concern, occasionally standing up and sitting back down on the couch in frustration. Lucas's cries only intensified, his small body writhing in discomfort. He was unusually fussy, refusing his bottle and arching his back in distress. Ivy had tried everything – changing his diaper, offering him a pacifier, singing lullabies – but nothing seemed to make him calm down. Maria got up and approached Ivy. "Let me try, Mrs. Anderson," But Ivy shook her head. "No, I've got him. I just need to... figure out what's wrong." She continued to pace, trying to rock Lucas to sleep. "What's wrong, my little one?" she whispered, her heart throbbing slightly. Lucas usually didn't cry this way for this long. She glanced at the clock, wondering if she should call Zack and tell him about Lucas's behavior. But it would b